UNT head coach Seth Littrell and players addressed the media on Tuesday at the weekly press conference and talked about the preparation for the Mustangs and what is added in a rivalry game.
"Preparation is preparation," Littrell said. "We understand who we're playing. SMU is a very good team. Offensively, they're very explosive – not only at running back and wide receiver but their tight ends are solid, too. They do a good job.
"Defensively, their coordinator has been around a long time and very sound in what he does. Players play fast and they understand their assignment and alignment and we know they're a solid team. That should motivate you every single week. …They're all big. We know who we're playing. SMU is always a big game – not only for our players but also our fans and alumni and their fans and alumni. It's no secret. It's a big game. We have to focus on what we can control and go out and compete. At the end of the day, we'll see what happens."
Senior Tyreke Davis, a hybrid safety/linebacker known in UNT's defense as the "Eagle" position, is in his fifth year with the program and has become familiar with the Metroplex tilt. He's still close friends with SMU's Delano Robinson, a teammate of his at Denton Ryan, and will be squaring up SMU running back Tre Siggers on Saturday – a former UNT running back.
All that aside, Davis said the team must put that all aside and just play football.
"The tension is there, but at the end of the day we're here to play football," Davis said. "We're all grown men, so it' just gonna come down to who wants it more in the trenches.
"We have a chip on our shoulder off last year, in general. We have to be a little relaxed, too. We're just playing football. It's another game. It's a rivalry so there's a little more tension on it, but we just have to make routine plays and see how things end up."
SMU offense presents challenge
The Mustangs opened the season on Saturday at home with a 56-9 win over Abilene Christian, led by seven touchdown passes from transfer quarterback Tanner Mordecai, who originally played for Oklahoma.
Mordecai completed 24-of-30 passes against the Wildcats for 317 yards, and Littrell said he'll present a challenge to UNT's new-look defense after the Mean Green allowed just 14 points on Saturday – the fewest since a 45-3 win over UTSA in 2019.
"He's a great quarterback," Littrell said. "He had a great game and looked incredible with seven touchdowns. I know where he came from and he might not have had the opportunity at the other place but he's a great player and has great players around him. They're a very good football team and have really good players, and we'll have to be on top of our game."
Davis said his goal will be to disrupt Mordecai and not let him sit back and have time to find his weapons.
"He's a great quarterback - don't get me wrong - but ACU did some things different than we do," Davis said. "We respect him and everyone on that offense. We'll have to get in his face a little and try to slow him down and get him uncomfortable back there."
Davis thriving in new "Eagle" position
Tyreke Davis has seen it all in his time with the Mean Green – playing safety, linebacker and mixtures of both in his five seasons. He's currently the Mean Green's active leader in career tackles (188), which is six more than second-place KD Davis.
Tyreke Davis has dropped nearly 30 pounds since last season to once again move back to a hybrid role in new defensive coordinator Phil Bennett's system, known as "Eagle." In his first game of the season, Davis totaled seven stops, including a tone-setting tackle behind the line of scrimmage on the first drive of the game.
"It's been a great transition coming from linebacker. I dropped some weight – well, a lot of weight," Davis said. "It's very versatile. Lots of blitzing and coverage. It shows the trust coach Bennett and his staff has in me. They put us in the right spots. I couldn't ask for anything better."
Torrey keeping busy after career game
When projected starting running back Oscar Adaway III went down in fall camp with a season-ending injury, it thrust senior DeAndre Torrey back into the prime spot in the running back room after he'd planned on moving into more a slot role this season.
Torrey's 244 rushing yards and 320 all-purpose yards in last week's win over Northwestern State moved the 5-7, 199-pound Torrey into seventh all-time on the program's career rushing list, tied him for sixth on the all-time career rushing touchdowns list and put him up to seventh on the career all-purpose yards list.
It was only the beginning for Torrey, who exited the game early in the fourth quarter but was minimally relieved by Isaiah Johnson and Ikaika Ragsdale before his permanent exit.
"Not so much," Littrell said when asked if he would try to conserve Torrey's legs. "I think part of that is DeAndre and how he prepares. He's trying to take advantage of his opportunities with his nutrition and rehab and rest. Obviously, this is football and anything can happen any given week. You want to stay healthy and get through the game – that goes for every player. There are gonna be times when other guys have to step up and make big-time plays at every position.
"He had a great game and we feel like he's obviously one of our better players, and we'll try to keep him as healthy as we can."
Burns makes the most opener
Sophomore wide receiver Roderic Burns made the most of his opportunities on Saturday and picked up some slack left by a banged up wide receiver room, including Jyaire Shorter and Deonte Simpson.
Burns stepped into an expanded role and set career highs in catches (six) and yards (114) and added a highlight reel touchdown grab from quarterback Jace Ruder.
The walk-on said he has practiced what his coaches have preached – make routine plays in practice and watch it carry over to Saturdays – and it paid off.
"That was just all the hard work we've been doing in practice," Burns said. "I had a good fall camp, and I just wanted to show that and carry that to the game."
Littrell said Burns was undoubtedly one of the stars of Saturday's win.
"I thought he was phenomenal," Littrell said. "Between him and Torrey - that was probably our top two performances. He had a really good game. He had to wait for his time. He's played here, but in that role on that night he made some big plays for us. He had 100 yards and that big touchdown grab. It doesn't surprise me because that's what he's shown in practice. He performed the way he practiced and that's what people have to understand. What you put on tape in the week is usually what you do on the weekend. If you prepare well as a team you'll play well as a team."
Burns credited learning under some of the better receivers in recent Mean Green history in Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie Jaelon Darden and another walk-on in former UNT standout Michael Lawrence.
"I learned a lot from all those guys," Burns said. "From my first day here watching Mike and last year watching JD and spending time with them and getting all their knowledge - I've just been waiting my turn."
Bush getting comfortable in Denton
Sophomore wide receiver Tommy Bush, a Texas native who originally went to Georgia before transferring to UNT, made his first collegiate start on Saturday and finished the night with a pair of grabs for 21 yards.
At 6-5, Bush adds a great deal of length to the outside of UNT's passing attack, and Littrell said he's quickly acclimating himself to the program despite having limited preparation time before the season.
"He's been here three or four weeks in practice and I think he has a really bright future," Littrell said. "He's a big, long dude that can run. He has a lot of room for improvement and development and continuing to learn the offense and working on his route running but I think he's an explosive guy that can make big plays for us. He just needs to continue to grow and get better."
Burns talked about how well Bush has fit into the wide receiver room, and Tyreke Davis raved about their tight bond formed over a short time.
"That's the other cinco," Davis said, referring to their shared No. 5 jerseys. "That's my twin. He brings a deep threat by being tall but also just working hard. Coach Mainord just pushes them every day. Tommy, (Burns), everyone in that wide receiver room comes with it every day. That's my twin. I can't emphasize that enough. I just vibe with him and everybody, really. I like to be around people, especially with this team. Some of my friends left and now I get to make new ones."
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